Generous support from the community is turning local junior soccer player Lockie Lenehan’s dream opportunity to represent Australia into a reality.

The Wauchope High School student was selected last year to be part of an 18-day tour of Brazil with the national Futsal team.

Lockie Lenehan and his mother Michelle want to thank everyone who has helped raise the funds for Lockie’s trip to Brazil with the Australian Futsal team.

Lockie earned his place in the team with some stand-out performances at an all-states competition in Townsville.

The team sets off for Brazil on August 2 for a series of matches against home sides in the same 15 to 16 age group.

But before Lockie or any of the other players selected for the team could board the plane for Brazil they each had to come up with $8000 to pay for the trip.

And that’s where the community’s generosity has come onto the scene, with a trivia night held on March 16 raising $5500 for the trip.

The event, originally scheduled for February 23 and postponed because of the flood, was “a great night and we had lots of fun and laughs”, Lockie’s mother Michelle said, and wanted to thank everyone who attended.

“A special thank-you goes to Mark Thompson – what a top job he did with the trivia and running the night,” Michelle said.

“Kim Thompson, Rhonda Grayston and Kylie Watts – thank you so much for all your help – couldn’t have done it without you.”

A $1000 fuel raffle is still under way at the Riverview Service Centre at North Haven and that and another raffle at Laurieton’s Peg’s Place craft shop will further boost the kitty for the trip, while the Wauchope Lions are also planning to help.

The Wauchope RSL Fishing Club, which keen angler Lockie belongs to, was the non-profit group that held the trivia night for him.

Now that the hefty fund-raising goal is within sight Lockie can concentrate on goals of the Futsal kind as he prepares for the trip.

His passport has been organised and he is having a series of shots needed for the South American destination – yellow fever is the latest.

Lockie says he is really looking forward to the experience – plus he gets three weeks off school.

The community’s support for the trip has been “fantastic”, Michelle said, “it’s quite overwhelming”.